This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Real Salt Lake muddled through its most miserable stretch of games in the past three seasons while an injured and impatient Jamison Olave — the team's best defender — was reduced to spectator status.
Just a coincidence?
Probably not. Olave returned last week and RSL earned a huge 1-0 win on the road at Chivas USA. And Real did so hanging on defensively by its fingernails after Nat Borchers was sent off with a red card midway through the first half.
RSL is banking on the same kind of result when Philadelphia visits Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday at 7 p.m. Certainly Olave is.
"It was bad watching the games," Olave said through an interpreter. "I couldn't help the team. I got frustrated when I was watching, part of the crowd. It's bad when the only thing you can do is watch."
Sleek, muscular and physical, an intimidating presence on the back line and in set pieces, Olave rarely comes in second best when clashing with opponents inside RSL's 18-yard box. And those collisions aren't always against the other team.
RSL midfielder Kyle Beckerman now sports six stitches that helped close a gash above his right eye following a collision with Olvave during the Chivas game. Certainly, the scar will provide lasting memories.
"I told Jamison, 'I'll remember you for life,'" said Beckerman, joking that he got off easy.
It took more than a month for Olave to recover from a knee sprain suffered in the 38th minute of the MLS All-Star Game against Manchester United.
RSL lost four of its next five games without its valued center back, allowing nine goals in the process.
"If I was a forward in this league and I had to play against him, I would probably have an injury that day," RSL coach Jason Kreis said. "There would be some reason why I wouldn't play because he can put the fear of God into forwards."
Kreis knows Olave's value. He was part the new wave of RSL players Kreis recruited between 2007 and 2008 who eventually helped lead the team to the MLS Cup championship in 2009.
Olave has been consistently among Major League Soccer's best center backs.
"The knee is feeling very good," he said. "I was happy when I came back, but after the red card with Nat, I was frustrated at the same time.
"I was happy for the victory."
To understand Olave's game is to study the player he modeled himself after as a youngster in Medellin, Colombia — Sol Campbell.
A regular on the English national team, Campbell was a rock in central defense for several Premier League teams, including Tottenham and Arsenal, in the 1990s and later.
"He's the one," Olave said.
Like Campbell, Olave plays with controlled aggression, combined with great skill.
"As a whole we can play a little bit more aggressive defensively," Kreis said. "We definitely feel Olave is going to cover the guys behind us. He does [combine] that with putting a bit of physical fear into the opponent, which makes them a little bit more cautious."
Olave is well aware of his impact.
"I am fast and physical," he said. "I've shown MLS players who I am. Maybe they think about me."
Philadelphia at Real Salt Lake
P At Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy
Kickoff • 7:05 p.m.
TV • None
Radio • 700 AM, 1600 AM
Records • Philly 8-6-10, RSL 11-7-6
All-time series • RSL 1-0-2
Last meeting • Tie 1-1 (June 11)
About the Union • Philadelphia returns to league play after a forced weekend off due to Hurricane Irene. The team's last match was a 2-1 loss to the Columbus Crew at Crew Stadium, extending Philly's winless run to five games.
About RSL • In its the last eight games, Real is 4-4. The four victories have come by shutout; RSL has conceded eight goals in the four losses, after allowing just 12 goals total in their first 16 MLS matches.